Gwen M. Plano Returns with Redemption! #NewRelease

I am honored to share my blog today with someone I admire and consider a dear friend! Welcome Gwen M. Plano.

Thank you, Beem, for inviting me to your site today. It’s a pleasure to visit your readers and share a bit about my new release.

Redemption, A Father’s Fatal Decision is a mystery thriller that takes place in the Southeast corner of New York state, in the towns of New Rochelle and Cortlandt. In the excerpt below, the characters travel to Ossining, midway between those two cities. Having spent about twenty years in and around that area, it was exciting to visit as a writer.

The book tackles themes of forgiveness and redemption through suspense. We accompany the son and daughter of the deceased as they try to uncover the reason for their father’s murder. What they discover prompts them to ask if they even knew him.

Sometimes complicated situations help us see our own challenges in a different light. That is my hope for this book. Most of us won’t experience threats like those of my characters, but pain is universal, as is joy. Seeing either in the extreme helps us recognize our own—and severe or elated, those emotions are impactful.

In this excerpt, Lisa and Trace Holmes, along with their friend Ryan, drive to a storage facility. They have retrieved boxes of documents and cash from a hidden cabin belonging to their father. Lisa talks with the clerk at the facility and is humbled by what he explains.

EXCERPT

Tucked away from the main street, and enclosed by a tall steel security fence, George’s Storage units are barely visible from the road.

“Well, at least this is private,” Trace says. He nods at Lisa. “Come with me to sign the rental papers.”

They walk into the office and find an unshaven attendant seated behind the desk. The guy sets down his cell phone and looks at the siblings. “Monthly or yearly?”

“Monthly,” Trace says.

Lisa scans the room and spots boxes and packing tape. “We’ll have four boxes and this package of tape as well.”

“We have more in the back room, ma’am. I’ll show you.” The man maneuvers his wheelchair to a side door and turns on the light. “There might be something in here that would help you.”

Lisa notices his stumps and his dog tags. “Vietnam?”

“Yes, ma’am. U.S. Marine Corps. My last battle was the Tet Offensive in sixty-eight.”

“My uncle served on a sub. He came back a changed man. Thank you for your service, Marine. You’ve given more than most of us ever will.”

He studies her and sees her sincerity. “I’d do it again if I thought it would help our country. Some things are worth more than our lives.”

“Wise words, sir, and timely. Thank you.”

BLURB

Family secrets can be deadly. When Lisa Holmes visits her parents one fateful Saturday morning, she hugs her father and walks to her childhood bedroom. The doorbell rings. Her father opens the door, and one minute later, he lies dead on the floor—three bullets to the chest.

The Holmes family lives on a quiet street, but no one really knows Eric Holmes. He travels for business and comes home a few days each month. Unbeknown to all, Eric has multiple lives.

In this fast-paced psychological thriller, Lisa and her brother, Trace, embark on a quest to solve the mystery involving the murder of their father. The journey takes them into a secret world where nothing is as it seems. As the puzzle pieces begin to coalesce, they discover the meaning of Redemption.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

BookBub: bit.ly/3Y26EI5

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3XIe6Yu

Story Empire: https://storyempire.com/gwen-m-plano

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gmplano

Blog: www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections

 

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3RebK0W

Amazon Purchase Page: https://amzn.to/3XKiLJn

Barnes and Noble: bit.ly/3JGgdbl

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Author Joan Hall Returns With New Release! #ShortStories

It is my great pleasure and honor to welcome friend and author Joan Hall to The Indie Spot today!

Without a Trace

Thanks for sharing your blog today, Beem. I’m excited to be here and to talk about my newest release, Menagerie. It’s a mixed-genre compilation of thirteen short stories. Each tour stop features a different story and I tell how it came about. Today’s story is Without a Trace. It’s set in 1987 and falls into the mystery/suspense category.

Several years ago, I envisioned an old, abandoned house. The home’s original owner died in a freak accident, and some speculated his ghost haunted the place. Other than that, I wasn’t sure what I would do with it. The only thing I knew was the name of the street, so the working title was The House on Baker Street. That name came about not because of Sherlock Holmes, but from a popular tune from the late 1970s by Gerry Rafferty.

As I pondered what to do with the idea, I recalled an incident that happened when I was in my late teens. A new neighbor stopped by one day to ask us about a nearby abandoned farmhouse. Mom and I knew of the home—the owner died about ten years earlier, and her family left the house unoccupied and in a state of disrepair.

Our neighbor had stopped there to dig some bulbs that grew near the road. The door was open, and she went inside. Some of the woman’s clothing still hung in closets. I accompanied Mrs. B. another time. An old prescription medicine bottle sat on the kitchen counter. A spoon still rested on the stove. A few food items were still in the cabinet. Needless to say, it was bizarre.

That’s when I decided to write a story where a family disappeared during the night with not much more than their clothes came to mind.

In Without a Trace, a television reporter, Tricia Strickland, moves to a new town and wonders why an old home was left abandoned. When she learns about the family’s mysterious disappearance, she decides to investigate and gets permission from the station manager to do a special report.

After getting permission from the house’s new owner, Trisha and her cameraman film inside the house. But will she learn the truth of what happened to the family? Below is an excerpt.

Excerpt:

Trisha stepped into the foyer then followed the new owner throughout the first floor. Layers of dust coated the furnished interior. Magazines lay on the coffee table. The kitchen still had appliances. Dishes were in the cabinet. An open pantry door revealed rusting cans of food. Trisha didn’t want to think about what they left in the refrigerator.

The second floor was more of the same. Furniture was still in place, and children’s toys were on the floors. A few clothes hung in closets.

It wasn’t hard to determine which room belonged to the daughter. It contained a white canopied bed—a style popular during the late sixties and early seventies. Cracked and fading posters of David Cassidy adorned one wall.

The second bedroom was all boy—bunk beds, model cars on shelves, a baseball glove, and a single sports trophy. Trisha ventured near to read the engraving. It was a first-place little league team award belonging to Rick Keller.

“Hey, Jeff. Get a close-up shot of this. What kind of family would leave behind items that meant something to their children? They must have fled for their lives.”

“I guess you could say that.”

Blurb:

King’s. The Tower of London. Glass. What do these have in common?

Each is a famous menagerie.

While this Menagerie doesn’t focus on exotic animals, it does contain a collection of stories that explore various trials people face and how their reactions shape their worlds.

Survivors of a haunted bridge. Women who wait while their husbands fight a war. Former partners reuniting to solve a cold-case murder.

These are just three of the thirteen stories in this compendium, encompassing past and present, natural and supernatural, legend and reality. The genres and timelines are varied, but there’s a little something for everyone who enjoys reading about simpler times and small-town life.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/jh-menagerie

About the Author

Social Media Links

Website   |   Blog   |   BookBub   |   Goodreads

John W. Howell’s The Last Drive Arrives! #NewRelease @HowellWave

Greetings to one and all. Today, I am honored to present John W. Howell’s latest release, The Last Drive.

I am so pleased to be with you today, Beem. I want to thank you for helping spread the word about The Last Drive. Your stories have always impressed me with the authentic characters, setting and dialogue. Of course, I don’t reach your level in this stead, but it occurred to me that there were some historical events that could only have been crafted by the devil. I had not thought about creating a sequel to Eternal Road, but the opportunity to visit these historical events with my characters was too compelling to ignore and so The Last Drive was born.

Here is the blurb and then we can get to a short excerpt from the book.

The Blurb

In the sequel to Eternal Road – The final stop, Sam and James are reunited to look for two souls, Ryan and Eddie. Ryan was killed in Afghanistan, trying to avoid a schoolyard with his crippled plane. Eddie Rickenbacker, Ryan’s hero, is to guide Ryan to his Eternal Home, and now both are missing.

The higher-ups believe that there has been some interference in Ryan and Eddie’s journey by Lucifer, so Sam and James have the task of finding Ryan and Eddie to get them back on the road despite the evil interference. Unfortunately, the machinations designed to prevent Ryan and Eddy from completing their journey takes the pair to horrifying testing grounds. The places visited represent the best work of the Devil. They are the trenches of World War I in France, gladiators at the Roman Coliseum, the sinking Titanic in 1912, Hiroshima 45 minutes before the bomb, and the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1943.

This book is for you if you like plenty of action, strong characters, time travel, and a touch of spiritual and historical fiction. So, join Sam and James as they try to find the missing souls while staying one step ahead of the Prince of Darkness, who is determined to destroy all that is good.

An Excerpt.

Sam approaches James, who sits on a chair in a meadow, reading a book next to a glass of iced tea on a small table. Her old friend appears comfortable in his Eternal Home. Butterflies take wing in her stomach. Maybe not bothering James might be the best alternative. As she turns to leave, James glances her way. His eyes widen, and he thrusts out of the chair and makes a semi-sprint over to her. “My God, Sam. It’s you, isn’t it?”

Sam smiles. “Yes, it’s me.”

He turns, throws the book toward the chair, and takes Sam’s hands in his. “How’ve you been?” James radiates warmth.

With a squeeze of James’s hands, Sam gazes into his eyes. “I’ve been great. How about you?”

James releases Sam’s hands. “I can’t believe I haven’t sat around thinking about you.”

“That’s not what you’re supposed to do for eternity.”

“But you would think you’d cross my mind sometime.”

Sam smiles. “That’s the beauty of this place. You only have great thoughts about the things you want to think about.”

A Link to the Trailer

You Tube https://youtu.be/HEUninXiibI

Buy Links

The Last Drive is available in paper and Kindle editions on Amazon. Here are the universal links. The Kindle edition is on sale for 99¢ through mid-February.

Kindle https://mybook.to/FYmkKr

Paper https://mybook.to/BCsWV

Author Bio

John is an award-winning author who after an extensive business career began writing full time in 2012. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. He has written Six other books that are on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

John lives in Lakeway, Texas with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.

Author links

Blog Fiction Favorites, http://johnwhowell.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/john.howell.98229241

Twitter –https://www.twitter.com/HowellWave

Goodreads –https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7751796.John_W_Howell

Amazon Author’s page –https://www.amazon.com/author/johnwhowell

BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/john-w-howell

Eternal Road Buy links

Kindle Universal link  mybook.to/EternalRoad

Paper universal link mybook.to/Eternalroadpaper

Author C. S. Boyack Returns With The Midnight Rambler!

Greetings, readers! Today, it is my honor and privilege to introduce to you Lisa Burton, the robot girl and personal assistant to author C. S. Boyack. Lisa has stopped by to share the latest installment in Boyack’s brilliantly original The Hat series entitled The Midnight Rambler. Welcome to The Indie Spot, Lisa. . .  

 

Oh, my gosh! I’m so excited to get away from the writing cabin for this tour. Thank you for having me over, Beem. I’m here to talk about The Midnight Rambler, Craig’s newest volume in The Hat Series. Don’t let that word, series, scare you away. All of these can be read as solo titles if one appeals more than the others. It’s October and this one has mad science. Just saying.

 

Anyhoo, there’s this ancient enemy of the hat and he’s come back to even the score. He’s a bad dude, spirit, whatever. He’s taking the tower fortress approach to make the hat to screw up. A desperate Lizzie and the hat might make a fatal mistake.

 

The Rambler kidnaps one of the local coven members, and he’s the only person who can make magical medicine for Lizzie’s new love interest. Without this medicine, Ray C. Adair is going to die. There’s a lot of pressure on our heroes.

 

This love interest is something new for the series, and Lizzie has to deal with always having the hat around, trying to save Ray’s life, and some serious bad weather while trying to get her private time in. It’s not easy being a paranormal heroine.

 

To celebrate mad science in all it’s glory, I posed for Sean Harrington to make this poster for everyone. For some reason he had these awesome mad science shoes laying around. They might have gone missing after the shoot. No idea where they went.

 

Your fans are welcome to use the poster as wallpaper, share it to Pinterest, or whatever else turns them on. Robot girls can always use a boost.

 

 

The Hat Series consists of short novels, which Craig insists on calling noveloids. He’s a weird dude, but you kind of want that in an author. The books are all stand-alone stories, so you don’t have to read every volume before picking up The Midnight Rambler. You can start right here if you like and won’t feel lost at all. Side note: I’m bucking for a Christmas bonus, so if you did pick them all up, it would really help. Maybe some cute Chiristmas boots with little bells.

 

 

Something evil is after the hat. The ageless enemies have battled many times, but this time Lizzie is wearing the hat. She’s also up against a ticking clock, in that if she can’t find the maker of her new friend’s medicine he will die.

 

The Rambler has kidnapped the only witch capable of making Ray’s medicine in an attempt to make the hat sloppy in his efforts. He’s also flooded the streets with deadly minions to impede any progress our heroes might make.

 

As if that weren’t enough, Lizzie is facing more of life’s struggles, both financially and mechanically. This all goes down in the middle of a huge flood event that she’s ill equipped to handle.

 

Join Lizzie and the hat as they battle the elements, the paranormal, and a being of pure evil. Lizzie might be battling some personal demons along the way as she and Ray grow closer.

 

Get your copy here: https://mybook.to/TheMidnightRambler

 

 

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The True-Life Adventures of Retired US Navy Lt. Commander Jerry Pait

Welcome to guest blogger Robert G. Williscroft, submariner and author of multiple series including The MacMcDowell Missions, The Oort Chronicles, and The Daedalus Files. Robert compiled and edited the true-life adventures of retired US Navy Lt. Commander Jerry Pait in his new book, Sŭbmarine-Ër.

#  #  #

Jerry Pait enlisted on September 15, 1964, was assigned to Fleet Sonar School, volunteered for subs, and ended up on USS Entemedor (SS-340). After Advanced Sonar School, he was transferred as an STS-2 to USS Von Steuben (SSBN 632B) in the Philly yards right after her collision off Cadiz, Spain. I was a newly minted Lt. j.g., fresh out of Poseidon Missile School, having come through the NESEP program and Univ. of Washington in marine and atmosphere physics. I guess the skipper made me Sonar Officer because I was a former sonar tech. Jerry and I served together until I left for the Man-in-the-Sea Program and ultimately Operation Ivy Bells, tapping into Soviet underwater communications cables in the Sea of Okhotsk.

Jerry went on to become COB on Von Steuben, served in a senior position in Sonar/Torpedoman School, and then was commissioned as an LDO Ensign. He returned briefly to Von Steuben and then served as a division officer on several sub tenders. After that, he was assigned to NOTU, supervising underwater ballistic missile launchings for several years, working closely with NASA. He rose to Lt. Cmdr., was selected for Cmdr. But was mustered out on retirement as part of Clinton’s force reduction efforts.

Jerry took a senior field position with the major defense contractor Brown & Root, but during his first year, he fell from 20 feet in a way that fractured his back and cracked his skull. He survived, received a significant settlement, and has struggled ever since to regain as much function as possible.

I was on Jerry’s emailing list. He began to send out periodic stories from his past. They were fascinating, and the response from his list was remarkable. I saw their potential and contacted Jerry—we hadn’t communicated directly with each other in decades. I suggested that I work with him to compile his stories into a coherent whole, and that we put out a book. He agreed, so we found a publisher who was willing to work with us on this strange project, and we completed the book last month.

Jerry’s book, Sŭbmarine-Ër: 30 Years of Hijinks & Keeping the Fleet Afloat, will be released on September 15, exactly 58 years after he enlisted. The book is on pre-publication sale right now as an ebook for only 99¢. The ebook price will rise to $3.99 on September 15. Each chapter has a color photo that illustrates the contents of that chapter. The trade paperback printed version has half-tone photos and will sell for $19.95 The hardbound, jacketed edition is in full color throughout and will sell for $36.95. Both will be available for pre-order within two or three days.

Why am I doing this? Jerry is our brother—and he’s a genuine American hero. His story deserves to be told far and wide. I’m not here selling books. I’m here asking you to help me preserve the memory of one of the best among us. By purchasing the ebook on pre-order (only 99¢), you will help boost his sales ranking, so that on September 15, the release date, his ranking will shoot up. If you want the trade paperback, or the really cool hardbound, jacketed, full color version, you can pre-order those as well from Amazon or any other online bookseller, or you can order it from your favorite brick and mortar store as well. Should you want an autographed copy, please use the Contact form at FreshInkGroup.com, and I will put you into direct contact with Jerry.

 

The Book Trailer!

 

Live Interactive Podcast with Pait and Williscroft!

Call (516) 453-9902 or hashtag #FreshInkGroup in tweets during the show.

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/voiceofindie1/2022/08/25/voice-of-indie-episode-108

 

The Book Blurb!

Lieutenant Commander Jerry Pait’s semi-autobiographical collection of sixty stories recounts his thirty years in and around the U.S. Navy’s submarine fleet. Ranging from light-hearted to wrenching, all are poignant inside looks at naval operations rarely seen by outsiders. Topics include the real story behind the shuttle Challenger tragedy, risking his own life underwater, discovering a Soviet spy living across the street, surviving when a DELTA Rocket engine ignites, critical missions, and the everyday lives of men and women of the fleet. Dive into Sŭbmarine-Ër for hijinks and breathtaking adventure with this poignant memoir by a true American hero.

 

Order Yours!

Digital editions at 99 cents during pre-sale are available in all major ebook formats—Kindle, Nook, Kobo, GPlay, iBooks, and 200+ more—worldwide. Full-color jacketed hardcovers and full-color softcovers are appearing at retailer sites over the next week.

Amazon:

Author D. L. Finn Returns With a New Release!

I am excited to help announce the latest release from my friend and fellow author D. L. Finn here on The Indie Spot!  

 

Thank you, Beem, for having me on your blog today to celebrate the release of A Voice in the Silence.

I live far enough away from neighbors that they may not see if I need help, but will hear cries or screams. During a big snowstorm with a power and phone outage, it is guaranteed no one will hear or know help is needed over the loud symphony of generators. Our only option would be to walk down our long driveway, cross the icy road, and trek across our neighbor’s property. Although, it’s doubtful they’d have better luck getting any help.

Luckily, since we’ve lived in the woods, there has never been that scream for help, only cries from wild animals. Perhaps I write the bad away.

Fun Finn Facts

1. I love to take nature photos and write poetry about what I see and feel.
2. Nothing pulls me into a story more than a personal journey—whether it’s horror, science fiction, mystery, drama, fantasy, or romance.

Blurb

Drea Burr has experienced more than her share of loss when a stray dog, cat, and rat enter her life. Although the animals start to mend her broken heart, there is something very unusual about them. During a snowstorm, Drea discovers a chilling set of footprints leading to her front window. Both the police and a ghostly messenger warn her about a killer stalking widows. Help comes from her late husband’s best friend, Adam Hale. As the two try to discover answers, more questions arise— about a killer, ghosts, and animals experimented on in a lab.

Can Drea and Adam survive the threats coming from so many directions and save themselves and the animals they’ve grown to love? Or will more tragedy destroy her second chance at happiness? Find out in this thrilling, cozy paranormal adventure.

Excerpt

The fading day’s dull orange glow filled the void in Drea’s attention usually occupied by the TV and computer. The landscape held no movement, not even the expected high winds that had caused her power to be shut off to prevent forest fires. A surge shot through her body in the same uncomfortable fashion that the flu had done last week. But it wasn’t a virus relapse—it was a warning that someone, or something, was watching her. 

Perhaps it was a wild animal. A deer, or even . . . “Rob, is that you?” She held her breath, waiting for a sign. Finally, she blew out the empty hope when she couldn’t keep it in anymore. Two years of this had worn her down.

The cold gun on her lap offered no protection against the dark thoughts that took her to a place that was getting harder to climb out of. She pulled her sweater tightly around her and scrutinized the tree-lined driveway that led to the curvy country road. She shifted her weight in the yellow-and-white lounge chair and studied the weapon in her hand.

“You understand, don’t you?”

The .45 pistol her husband had bought her for protection ten years ago had become her confidant when she tired of talking to ghosts. Today, though, it carried the heavy weight of her existence.

“It’s too much. Just too much loss. I’m so alone, and to top it off, Robbie’s so far away.” Her throat tightened. She sipped some water and took a deep breath. “I must disappoint you, even thinking about using this gun on myself, Rob. It would devastate Robbie if I—”

Drea’s shoulders slumped, and her head followed when her glance caught a prominent headline in the morning paper she had retrieved from the end of the driveway. An unidentified woman’s body had been found, and a killer was on the loose. She used the gun to cover the fearful headline, even though her chances of being murdered by a serial killer were slim to none.

She shook her head. What she needed to focus on was her relationship with her son. They used to be so close, before he met that woman. Now he barely called his mother to check on her after his father died or when her beloved pets passed. This morning had brought an unwelcome text from him.

Tammy isn’t feeling well. It wouldn’t be a good time to visit right now. Sorry, Mom. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you.

“I hope he wakes up someday, Rob. That woman is toxic. Of course, you saw through her the first time you met her. I should have listened to you. Do you hear that, Rob? It’s me admitting I’m wrong, which we both know hardly ever happens.”

Amazon Purchase Link US
Amazon Purchase Link UK

Author Bio

1. L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include adult fiction, poetry, a unique autobiography, and children’s books. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.

D.L. Finn Links:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest

D.L. Finn blog

Author Amazon Page

 

 

C. S. Boyack Offers Good Liniment! #NewRelease @virgilante

C. S. Boyack is a talented writer with a phenomenal imagination. He is also somebody that I consider a friend. I have recently read the first novel in his Hat Series and instantly became a fan. There is a uniqueness in Craig’s stories that is both refreshing and entertaining. So, it is my good pleasure to introduce author C. S. Boyack’s assistant Lisa.

Wow, thanks for having me over, Beem. This is a new stop for me. I know Craig wants me to talk about his book, but I’m excited to get to my poster. It’s one of my all-time favorites. It’s me taking Noodles for a walk on a sunny day. He’s having fun, and I’m looking pretty svelte. Sean Harrington did a wonderful job on this one.

The newest entry in The Hat Series is called Good Liniment, and Noodles shows up here. This book introduces magical creatures to the series, and circles back to the witchcraft alluded to in the very first book.

Noodles is something like a cross between a Rottweiler and a snapping turtle. He’s a water creature that a witch named Cyrus Yoder adopted years ago. He’s not a familiar, but more of a pet.

Don’t worry about regular people seeing him when we went out. Cyrus cast a spell on him that makes him look like a smoky-grey standard poodle. But, guess what? It doesn’t work on robot girls, so I get to see his cute chubby butt wiggling down the street.

Noodles is like manic crazy all the time. He loves his people and does zoomies around the yard while eating or playing with his favorite toy.

The main characters, Lizzie and the hat, get to spend a considerable amount of time at Cyrus’s house, so Noodles gets plenty of page time. He’s so cute, I just love him. I also have it on good authority that he could get some scenes in a subsequent story.

Back to this tale, so I don’t get fired. This whacko cult of some kind is killing off members of the local coven. They vote to hire Lizzie and the hat to deal with the problem any way they see fit. It seems they know more about her and the hat, than even she does, and believe she’s well equipped for the task.

This puts Lizzie in the unenviable position of hunting humans once more. Monsters are one thing, but it seems humans are the worst monsters of all.

If you like your paranormal fiction in an urban setting, with plenty of snark, The Hat Series might be for you. Good Liniment features plenty of pop culture references to pro wrestling, comic book conventions, urban legends, and rock & roll, we’d appreciate you checking it out.

It comes in a size Craig insists upon calling noveloids. These are short novels that you can read in a single afternoon. I hope I’ve whet your appetite enough to take a chance.

Blurb

Someone is murdering members of the local witches coven. They turn to Lizzie and the hat for their unique skills that might help eliminate the killers.

A religious zealot might be a monster, but is still a human being. This task isn’t the same as staking vampires or shooting zombies. It isn’t the usual project Lizzie takes on for her night work.

This all takes place during a recovery period for Lizzie. She needs to keep her cover band together and find a new way of getting them gigs. More bands and less venues are making finances tight. The hat didn’t make things easier during her absence, by spreading rumors about why she took her sabbatical.

Someone killing others over a point of view insults Lizzie’s sensibilities. She has secrets to keep. Her employers have secrets, too. It doesn’t make for a comfortable working environment, but she agrees to do what she can.

Convincing her strong-willed employers to stay indoors during all this poses another problem. Can she keep them alive long enough to finish her task?

Good Liniment is full of magic, magical creatures, and an entire underground community living amongst us.

The Hat Series consists of short novels that can be read in a single afternoon. They’re full of snarky dark humor and can be easily read out of order.

PURCHASE GOOD LINIMENT

BUY THE HAT SERIES

Find C. S. Boyack on Social Media

Blog

C. S. Boyack Books

Twitter

Goodreads

Facebook

Pinterest

BookBub

Jagged Feathers – @jansikes3 #NewRelease #RomanticSuspense #WhiteRuneSeries

Greetings to readers everywhere! Today, I have the honor of hosting friend and fellow author Jan Sikes here on The Indie Spot! Take it away, Jan . . .

Thank you, Beem, for inviting me to your blog site today to talk about my new book, JAGGED FEATHERS! I appreciate your generosity.

PTSD is a crippling disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. A horrific car wreck, a kidnapping, witnessing a murder, spending time in prison, or fighting in a war are just a few of the things that can cause PTSD.

My character, Vann Noble, fought in Afghanistan and lost a part of his leg and the life of his best friend in a roadside bombing. He suffered from PTSD and sought healing in solitude and nature. He avoided situations he knew would trigger PTSD.

But when a car backfired inside a parking garage, it sent him into a full-blown episode.

EXCERPT:

Vann stood and cautiously left the shelter of the concrete wall.

Below, he spied a covered walkway that crossed over the street. He could circle around and come from the backside of the parking lot to the vehicle. That appeared to be his best option.

He had to get down to the walkway and quickly. Nakina depended on him.

Halfway down the stairs, a resounding boom echoed through the structure.

Vann gripped the stair rail with white knuckles and covered his head with his free hand. In an instant, he was back in Afghanistan under enemy fire. His breath came in hard gasps fighting to find a way inside his chest. He sank against the wall, eyes squeezed shut. With his heart pounding and chest constricted, he trembled from head to toe.

It was happening all over again. The distinctive acrid smell of ammonium nitrate, the panicked yelling, the ricochet of bullets against the side of the Humvee.

“It’s not real, not real,” he muttered as sweat dripped from his forehead.

Dammit! This was not the time for a PTSD panic attack. It was nothing more than a car backfiring, he told his brain. Breathe. Pull it together. Think about Nakina.

He forced himself to remember the feel of her soft lips on his. That was real. Willing his eyes to open, he wiped the sweat away with the back of a shaky hand and pushed to his feet. He didn’t have any time to waste. Gulping air into his lungs, he took the stairs two at a time, crossed the walkway, and hurried down the steps to street level.

***

My late husband was incarcerated in a maximum-security federal prison for fifteen years. He most definitely suffered from episodes of PTSD, and he hated it. It always made him feel weak. Large crowds of people with everyone talking were big triggers for him. He said it always took him back to the prison chow hall, where he witnessed many stabbings. So, I pulled from my first-hand knowledge of PTSD to write this character. Have you ever experienced this or known anyone who did?

BOOK TRAILER LINK: https://youtu.be/CwGRyRVMyLE

BLURB:

Vann Noble did his duty. He served his country and returned a shell of a man, wounded inside and out. With a missing limb and battling PTSD, he seeks healing in an isolated cabin outside a small Texas town with a stray dog that sees beyond his master’s scars. If only the white rune’s magic can bring a happily ever after to a man as broken as Vann.

On the run from hired killers and struggling to make sense of her unexplained deadly mission, Nakina Bird seeks refuge in Vann’s cabin. She has secrets. Secrets that can get them all killed.

A ticking clock and long odds of living or dying, create jarring risks.

Will these two not only survive, but find an unexpected love along the way? Or, will evil forces win and destroy them both?

UNIVERSAL PURCHASE LINK:

https://linktr.ee/Rijanjks

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

WEBSITE: http://www.jansikes.com

BLOG:   http://www.jansikesblog.com

TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/jansikes3

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanSikesBooks

PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/jks0851/

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7095856.Jan_Sikes

BOOKBUB:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jan-sikes

LINKEDIN:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jansikes/

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.amazon.com/Jan-Sikes/e/B00CS9K8DK

 

Girl Wears Those Shoes Available for Pre-Order!

Aspiring young Chinese immigrant Gigi O survives by working as a stripper, but she strives for true success in the U.S. real-estate industry. Navigating this highly competitive business is tough, especially when her only support comes from the deeply flawed man she loves and her old cohorts from the strip club. Issues of betrayal and trust, loyalty and commitment complicate her goals even as one lesbian friend adds new dimensions to her understanding of love versus desire. Then the market crashes and financial turmoil threatens to rob Gigi O of all she has achieved. Can she find new ways to chase her dreams-and still manage to keep her clothes on? Or might she find a better reason to take them off? Girl Wears Those Shoes is a tale of love and power, the story of one woman who wants to make the world her own-if only she can figure out how.

About the Author:

After two decades in the real-estate industry, Jenny Wang has established her brand, “Jenny Wang Houston,” with JWang Properties, a boutique agency with a personal touch, and JWang Media, a custom-video production team for promotion and marketing. An active community booster, Jenny is the past president of the Women’s Council of Realtors, Houston Network. An Ambassador of the Houston Ballet, she holds a lifetime membership in the University of Houston Alumni Association. Author of her debut novel, Girl Wears Those Shoes, Jenny Wang is proud to live her principles even as she pursues her own unique vision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where to Buy:

Listen to Jenny’s Interview:

Click on Placard to Listen!

#NewRelease – Mountain Laurel Christmas #Christmas #ShortStory @JanSikes3

I am honored to host award-winning author Jan Sikes on the Indie Spot today. Jan is a gifted writer and a wonderful storyteller.

For a young aspiring musician, getting noticed in Nashville is equivalent to us as authors, trying to get readers to find our books.

Andy Roberts arrived in Nashville a starry-eyed teenager. He put his name on the waitlist at the famed Tootsies Orchid Lounge. I wanted to make this the Bluebird Cafe, but since it didn’t open until 1984, and my story is set in the seventies, that didn’t work.

Nevertheless, he finally got his chance.

Here’s the excerpt:

I have my name on the waitlist for months before a spot ever opens up. It was the biggest chance I’d get.  I showed up every night, hopeful. After all, it was common knowledge that’s where record executives went to discover new talent.

Nervous as a cat in a room full of rockers, when I finally get my fifteen minutes on the microphone, I sing and play my heart out. I never wanted anything as badly as I did that night. Just one person. That’s all it would take.

Corinna South approached me as I wiped down my guitar. My God, she was strikingly gorgeous. Pure confidence radiated from her as she flashed a thousand-watt smile.

“You’re damned good, kid,” she said. “Did you write those songs?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“How about you come to work for me? I’ll show you the ropes.”

I’d stuttered some stupid reply while her attention turned me various shades of red. Holy Hell! Corinna South was talking to me.

***

We often hear of artists who were discovered by playing open-mic nights at the Bluebird Cafe. Garth Brooks is one example. It’s a tough business. Have you ever personally known anyone who tried to break into the music business and either succeeded or failed?

Mountain Laurel Christmas Blurb:

Orphaned, his family torn apart by tragedy, Cole Knight has come a long way from a ramshackle miner’s cabin on the side of the Cumberland Mountain.

Daring to follow an impossible dream, he’s made it big in the music business. Now, he’s a country music sensation with a huge house, fancy cars, plenty of willing women, money, and adoring fans. He should be on top of the world. Instead, he’s drowning in a swirling pool of self-contempt and relentless guilt.

It’s easier to lose himself in a bottle than face the hard truth…he hasn’t delivered on a promise he made to his father.

It’s almost Christmas, and the sting of failure drives him back to that tiny cabin in the mountains. But has he waited too late to put the shattered pieces back together—to find himself and restore a lost family?

PURCHASE LINK:

https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Laurel-Christmas-Jan-Sikes-ebook/dp/B09KJYMVT9/

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